Arkansas woman sentenced in scheme to steal millions from children's food program

by Scott Carroll

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LITTLE ROCK (KATV) —

An Arkansas woman was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison Wednesday after being convicted in a scheme to steal millions of dollars from a federal program intended to feed children in low-income areas.

Jacqueline Mills, 42, of Helena, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 150 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Cody Hiland, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District Arkansas, said in a news release that Mills was also ordered to pay more than $3 million in restitution and to forfeit "a number of properties" including houses and vehicles.

Mills was convicted in April of 39 criminal counts, including wire fraud, bribery and conspiracy to commit fraud.

As part of a U.S. Department of Agriculture program, she had operated 34 feeding sites for children in low-income areas . The program reimburses participants for the meals they serve. Prosecutors said Mills inflated the number of meals she served and pocketed millions in extra reimbursement money.

Mills is the 13th person sentenced in the case, according to Hiland. Among her co-defendants was Anthony Waits, 38, of England, who was sentenced to more than 14 months in prison in October. Waits was also ordered to pay more than $3.3 million in restitution.